How do you say “Push the envelope” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is ampliar los límites de lo posible, which literally means “to widen the limits of what is possible”. English speakers use push the envelope to mean to go beyond the usual limits of what is done or considered possible. Useful for innovation; less suited to simply breaking a rule. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
ampliar los límites de lo posible
/amˈpljaɾ los ˈlimites ðe lo poˈsiβle/
- Literal meaning
- “to widen the limits of what is possible”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
94 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
Spanish can state the idea directly: someone is making more things possible. The phrase fits ambitious design, research or performance.
If the English is about deliberately shocking people, explain what convention was challenged. “Ampliar los límites” alone sounds more positive than provocative.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
This new design pushes the envelope.
Spanish
Este nuevo diseño amplía los límites de lo posible.
English
The team wants to push the envelope with its next project.
Spanish
El equipo quiere ampliar los límites de lo posible con su próximo proyecto.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-09-19